An Australian-founded outdoor hospitality company is set to introduce a new glamping concept at Dairy Creek Golf Course in San Luis Obispo, California, with a planned opening this summer.
Nightsky Camps will repurpose part of the county-owned course to develop 45 eco-tents on land formerly occupied by nine decommissioned holes.
The holes were taken out of service due to ongoing water shortages, prompting the county to explore alternative uses that could generate revenue while reducing resource demand.
Dairy Creek originally opened in 1997 as an 18-hole course before water constraints reduced its footprint.
The San Luis Obispo project marks Nightsky’s first flagship hospitality development in the United States. Founded in Australia and now based in California, the company describes the scheme as regenerative in approach, with low-impact site planning designed to preserve the surrounding landscape.
According to local reports, the development will incorporate dark-sky-compliant lighting, water conservation systems, linen and towel reuse programmes, and operational practices aimed at reducing single-use plastics and chemical cleaning products.
The site, located near the city of San Luis Obispo, will offer private eco-tents featuring king-sized beds, timber interiors, custom furnishings, artisan décor, mini refrigerators, ensuite bathrooms and private decks. Shared amenities will include a restaurant, communal fire pits and a wellness space offering yoga, meditation, sauna experiences and cold plunges.
Ahead of the tented accommodation launch, Nightsky opened its on-site restaurant, Marcerro, focused on seasonal, locally sourced coastal Californian cuisine.
Under the reported agreement, Nightsky will fully fund the development and pay rent to San Luis Obispo County through a revenue-sharing model. For the county, the project creates a new hospitality-driven income stream while adapting public recreational land in response to environmental pressures.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the Dairy Creek project underscores several wider industry trends: adaptive reuse of underperforming assets, the integration of wellness into accommodation models, and public-private partnerships designed to diversify land use and revenue. It also reflects continued investment in upscale outdoor stays within reach of major urban markets such as Los Angeles and San Francisco.
As water availability and land-use regulation continue to shape development across the Western US, similar collaborations may become an increasingly viable pathway for growth.
